New growth takes root in Hawarden

A little more shade, a lot more beauty and a renewed sense of community pride are taking root in Hawarden.

On Friday, Oct. 30, city employees began planting trees at the Leo Anderson Sports Complex and near the summer recreation ball fields along Falcon Drive, kicking off a two-year effort to restore trees lost to disease and flooding throughout the community.

The project is being made possible in part through a $50,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which will help the city replace trees and invest in the future of Hawarden’s public spaces.

More than 100 trees are expected to be planted this year, with the remaining trees scheduled for planting next year.

For Hawarden public works director Travis Waterman, the project is about more than simply adding greenery. It is about replacing what the community has lost and making sure future generations can enjoy the benefits.

“When we got the inventory back, we knew we had over 300 ash trees, and they were all going to have to come out, all on city property,” Waterman said. “What better way to try to replace one for one, if not two for one, if we can get there?”

The inventory Waterman referenced was completed last summer with the assistance of Laurie Dams, an urban and community forestry technician, who visited Hawarden to assess the community’s existing tree population and identify opportunities for future plantings.

“Last summer, we came to Hawarden and we did a tree inventory, so that kind of helped us figure out what the city has, maybe where the city needs some more trees,” Dams said.

Seeing that information turn into actual trees being planted is especially rewarding, she added, particularly in areas where children and families gather.

“It’s really nice to see new trees being put in somewhere where kids are going to play a lot,” Dams said. “They can grow up next to the trees, enjoy the benefits and enjoy the shade.”

Hawarden community and economic development director Carol Hoogestraat credited Dams for her assistance throughout the process, including helping prepare the grant application.

“First of all, I would like to thank Laurie for making the trip out here and also her help with writing the grant,” Hoogestraat said. “Her tree inventory was actually the best material to add to the grant application. The information was tremendous.”

Hoogestraat said the project is already making a difference in areas where additional shade has long been needed.

“It’s just been a great project, and it’s going to be wonderful for us to have the trees out here,” Hoogestraat said. “As you can see, we need shade out here. It will be wonderful.”

Planning for the future While replacing trees is a priority, Waterman said city officials are also being intentional about what types of trees are planted.

With hundreds of ash trees needing removal, the city wants to avoid creating a similar situation in the future by planting a more diverse selection of species.

“We’ve made a concerted effort to diversify,” Waterman said. “We know that we have a lot of maples in town, a lot of ash are coming down, and right now we are planting like 10 different varieties, and we are going to keep that going.”

Planting a variety of species can help create a healthier urban forest and reduce the risk of losing large numbers of trees to a single disease or insect infestation.

The effort also represents a significant undertaking for city employees, many of whom have stepped outside their regular responsibilities to help get the trees in the ground.

“Our staff has been great. Everyone has been pitching in,” Waterman said. “They’re not tree planters or experts, but definitely everyone has come together for the betterment of the city.”

Community pride Beyond the environmental benefits, Hoogestraat said the tree planting initiative reflects a larger commitment by city leaders to improve Hawarden’s appearance and encourage residents to take pride in their community.

“The beautification of the city has been one of the hot buttons, one of the things that has been talked about by our current council,” Hoogestraat said. “They’ve taken it on firsthand, very personally. So we’ve had a lot of support.”

She hopes the tree planting project will be another positive step toward making Hawarden a more welcoming and attractive place to live, work and raise a family.

“The beautification of Hawarden — it’s time,” Hoogestraat said. “We need to start upping the pride in our community, and I think the city taking on planting trees will be a great addition to doing that.”

For the children who will one day play ball beneath the branches of these newly planted trees, the benefits may not be fully appreciated for years to come.

But as the trees grow, so will the shade they provide, the beauty they bring and the lasting impact of an investment being made today.

And for Hawarden, that is something worth growing.

New growth takes root in Hawarden

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